Interview with Mitch Monaghan from Nespresso

We caught up with Nespresso Australia and New Zealand coffee
ambassador Mitch Monaghan over a couple of cappuccinos to talk
about "positive cups", the future of coffee farming, and how he
takes his coffee.

What were you doing before Nespresso?
I have worked in a really wide range of jobs, from zookeeper to
barista. What I love about the world of coffee is that there is
always more to learn and of course, more to drink and enjoy.

You've done a bit of travelling back and forth to
Lausanne, where Nespresso was born. What's your favourite thing to
do when you touch down?
I go straight outside to walk around Lake Geneva. The snow-capped
mountains across the lake on the French border and the turquoise
water are all picturesque reminders about how lucky I am to do what
I do.

And how do you take your coffee when you're at
home?
One of my favourite coffees would be a strong but smooth
cappuccino, especially for weekend mornings. I love experimenting
with different flavours, too - whether it's adding some spices or
working with different flavours to create a twist on the Espresso
Martini.

How important is sustainability in the coffee
business?
Coffee is the second-largest raw export in the world, after oil.
The importance of sustainable practices across all stages of
operations is paramount. This means how the coffee is grown, how it
is packaged, produced and transported, and, of course, how it is
disposed of after consumption.

How does sustainability fit into the Nespresso
story?
Nespresso began with a simple idea: enable anyone to create the
perfect cup of coffee - just like a skilled barista. From a values
point of view, it was important for us to do this in a sustainable
way.

What are some of the ways you ensure responsible
practice?
In 2003, we launched a partnership with a leading environmental
NGO, the Rainforest Alliance. We provide growers with support,
training, financing and technical assistance to improve
sustainability, quality and productivity of their coffee. The
growers who are a part of the program are also paid a premium above
market prices for their beans.

Does the company keep a close eye on its carbon footprint,
too?
Machine use and coffee growing are bigger footprint contributors
than packaging - which is why Nespresso has been designing greener
machines and will continue to do so.

And what is the "positive cup" strategy all
about?
This is a program that sets out the steps Nespresso will implement
to achieve its sustainability goals by 2020. It incorporates goals
in the areas of coffee sourcing and social welfare, use and
disposal, aluminium sourcing and resilience to climate change. We
have goals in place to assist farmers in achieving high
certification standards - in water management, biodiversity and the
fair treatment of workers, for example.

What has been the most rewarding experience you've had
since taking the job almost a year ago?
In March, I was on my first visit to our production centre in
Avenches, in the North West of Switzerland. It was quite emotional
to finally visit the "Wonka factory" for coffee.

What's next?
One of the projects we are currently working on is the expansion
of the AAA Farmer Future Program, which initially will involve a
first-of-its-kind retirement fund for farmers in Colombia. We are
also working with farmers and communities in Sudan to revive the
country's high-quality coffee production and create positive
economic and social development.

Each fortnight we round up the most interesting characters from the food world for your listening pleasure. We chat to chefs, cooks, authors, bar tenders and baristas - anyone who has something new and interesting to say about the way we like to eat and drink.